7 Arrested In Fraud Probe In Aurora

April 28, 1999|By Hal Dardick. Special to the Tribune.

In what authorities called the first police sweep for public benefits fraud in Illinois, Aurora police Tuesday arrested seven people suspected of underreporting income to receive public housing assistance.

Those arrested allegedly received a total of nearly $62,000 in Aurora Housing Authority assistance to which they were not entitled, either at public housing complexes or through federal Section 8 rent subsidies.

The Illinois attorney general's Special Prosecutions Bureau obtained the indictments April 20 before a Kane County grand jury, after an investigation involving the housing authority, the attorney general and Aurora police.

"We have to be vigilant to protect public money intended to help those truly in need," Illinois Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan said. "If these allegations are proven, the defendants were raiding a program intended to help lower-income families make ends meet."

Those charged with state benefits fraud and forgery were Elisa Olivo, 41, and Edwin G. Olivo, 48, of the 200 block of East Illinois Avenue; Wilma Parker, 32, of the 1200 block of Coventry Place; Felicia Sanders, 29, of the 100 block of North Calhoun Street; and Diane Carter, 38, of the 1700 block of Molitor Road.

Charged with state benefits fraud were Donald Parker, 40, of the 500 block of Fourth Avenue, and Shirly Jean Spivey, 40, of the 1200 block of East Wilson Street, Batavia.

All of those arrested posted bond and were released pending May 19 court appearances. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to five years in jail, although probation is an option. They also could be ordered to pay up to $10,000 in fines and make restitution.